Accessibility Links

Ian Ritchie admits Heineken Cup is in need of ‘some change’

Mark Souster

October 9 2012, 1:01am, The Times

Ritchie agreed with PRL's assertion that there should be greater meritocracy in qualification for Europe's premier club tournamentDavid Rogers/Getty

While there was no evidence of white smoke emerging from Rome last night after a second round of negotiations over the future of the Heineken Cup, the RFU indicated that it sympathised with the English clubs in their demand for an overhaul of the competition’s structure.

Ian Ritchie, the chief executive at Twickenham, stopped short of backing the clubs’ controversial TV deal with BT Vision, reiterating that the union’s approval for it had not been given or sought. However, he agreed with Premier Rugby Limited’s (PRL) assertion that there should be greater meritocracy in terms of qualification for the tournament, and that every team from the six participating countries should earn their place rather than be guaranteed it.